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Bennet's Woodpecker


Bennet's Woodpecker
Photo Information
Copyright: Jan Hendrik van Rooyen (janhendrik) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 378 W: 65 N: 685] (2382)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-11-03
Categories: Birds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-05-13 6:09
Viewed: 791
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Bennett's woodpecker (Campethera bennettii)

Ann (my better half) and I visited Kruger last year in early November on a much anticipated trip. We arrived and then the heatwave struck. We were in Shingwedzi in the north of the park and it was the hottest I got in my entire life. We were told by the Kruger personnel that it was in excess of 40 degrees Celcius. At night we lit our fire to braai, and then sat insite the hut in the air conditioning watching the fire. In the day we were in the pool all the time, except very early in the morning and late in the afternoon when we drove out. In spite of that enjoyed it thoroughly.

This picture was taken inside Shingwedzi.

SUBFAMILY

Picinae

TAXONOMY

Chrysoptilus bennettii A. Smith, 1836, western Transvaal, South Africa. Two races recognized.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

English: Specklethroated woodpecker, Reichenow's woodpecker; French: Pic de Bennett; German: Bennettsspecht; Spanish: Pico de Bennett.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

About 9.5 in (24 cm); 2.2–3 oz (61–84 g). A small, brownish yellow woodpecker with heavy spotting on underparts; male has a red forehead to the nape, a red "moustache," and white ear coverts; female has a red nape, black-and-white mottled forehead, brown throat and ear coverts, a buff wash on the breast, and less intense spotting on the underparts; juveniles are darker above and more spotted below, with a white-spotted black crown.

DISTRIBUTION

Lake Victoria region, western Tanganyika and southeastern Congo to Angola, central Kalahari Desert, Damaraland, southern Zimbabwe, and Transvaal. C. b. bennettii, most of range except for southern Angola, southwestern Zambia, northern Namibia, and northern Botswana; C. b. capricorni, southwest parts of range including southern Angola, southwestern Zambia, northern Namibia, and northern Botswana. Absent from large areas.

HABITAT

Uses a wide range of open forest and bush habitats, especially acacia, miombo, and Brachystegia.

BEHAVIOR

A territorial, but social species found in pairs or family groups. Much of its time is spent on bare ground or in short-grass areas, including lawns. May show some migration in drier parts of its range.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Highly terrestrial in its search for food, but also forages on low trunks and larger limbs of trees. Often accompanies glossy starlings (Lamprotornis) when foraging. Diet includes mainly ants, termites, and their larvae and pupae, but also other arthropods.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Monogamous. Breeds from August to February, with nesting peaking in October and November in Zimbabwe and Transvaal. Nests are often in open areas and often in cavities excavated by other species. Clutch size 2–5 eggs; incubation lasts 15–18 days; parental duties carried out by both parents. Nest cavities may be reused.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

None known.


SOURCE: Bennett's woodpecker

IMAGE INFORMATION

Camera: Canon 20D
Camera mode: Aperture priority
Time of day: 07H44
Date: 3 November 2006
Lens: Canon 100-400mm IS USM
Shutter Speed: 1/640 sec
F-Stop: F/5.6
Focal Length: 400mm
Support: Hand Held
ISO: 400
Original file type: Raw (CR2)
jaycee, Evelynn, metcher, Debz, vanderschelden, SkyF has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Jan Hendrik,
Very beautiful photo of this Woodpecker. Sharp, good POV and composition. Nice eye-contact. Beautiful colours of the bird with the trunk.
TFS, Peter

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1778 W: 8 N: 4605] (14893)
  • [2007-05-13 10:35]

Hi Jan,

A fine looking woodpecker! He shows up so well against the tree even though he is well camouflaged. The head is beautiful with a wonderful eye.

Jane

Oh man... that sounds like a temperature nightmare. I hate heat! I'm glad you had a good time though. This is nice work for hand held!

TFS
Evelynn : )

Hi, Jan.
Unknown species for me, but very nice bird. Well caught - nearly at home. Good sharpness.

  • Great 
  • Debz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 582 W: 0 N: 866] (3283)
  • [2007-05-15 6:14]

Hi Jan, another great shot from you. Really good POV, light, colours and sharpness superb. Texture from the tree jumps out at you. Beautiful shot.
tfs
debz

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 871 W: 2 N: 606] (2034)
  • [2007-05-15 15:12]

Hoi Jan Hendrik , Een Schitterende Foto van Woody , volgens mij zag hij dat hij op de foto ging , prachtige kleuren scherpte mooie compositie ,,Fijne Avond ,Groeten Teunie

Missed this one...Jan-Hendrik
Easy to find 'smileys' in your gallery.
Congrats
TFS
Annick

WoW Jan Hendrik,

What an AMAZING beauty
SUPERB compo, sharpness, details and colours
Excellent POV

TFS Thijs

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2007-05-28 8:27]

Hello Jan Hedrick,
this fellow looks quite different tha the ones we encounter here. So this is very intersting to see.
This capture is excellent, very detailed and very sharp.
I like how the bird stopped in the action and glances back at you.
Very well done.
Sky

  • Great 
  • mlines Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 505 W: 17 N: 555] (2550)
  • [2007-06-15 18:42]

Hi Jan. We don't have woodpeckers here so it is good to see such a fine capture as this which has good clarity and colours. Murray.

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